Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-20

guard Of our party ever since the DAYS OF
JEFFERSON.
But the strangest thing of all is that
seven of the thirteen who refused to sign
the call for a caucus are from the Second
Congressional District. They arc Senators
FLoURNoY, of Hampshire, and PRICE, Of
Mineral, and Delegates Lucas and CHEW,
of jefferson; PUGH, of Hampshire; KINsEY,
of Marion, and CHIPLEY, of Hardy. There
are twelve Democrats elected from that dis
triet, and but five, Senators UNGER OF
Morgan, and GErrINGER of Berkeley and
Delegates SHAW, of Barbour, HEINEI
Nof Pendleton, and HARDING, OF
Randolph, that agreed to go into
the caucus. The Democrats of the State
will iiud it difficult to explain this action
on the part of = section where Democracy
il rocked ribbed. The most difficult Of all
will be to understand why Senator G. E.
PRICE refuses to 20 into caucus.
Is it because he regrets that he
himself WAS chosen Is President OF
the Senate by caucus? Or is it be-
cause he is sorry that Senator CAMDEN,
through organizing the party and bringing
out the vote in several counties along the
Ohio, has secured q Democratic majority
in the Senate aud made it possible for him
10 be reelected President ?
II has been limited that members from
that district are working in the interest of
HENRY G. DAVIS tor the United States
Senate. But We are not prepared to ac-
cept this rs au explanation.
IL has never been intimated to the party
in the State that Mr.. DAVIS isa candidate.
When the Democrats at last election cast
their ballots, Mr.. DAVIS name was never
mentioned in connection with the Sena-
tOrship. We have never heard that he WAS
a candidate either then or now. Even if
Mr. DAVIS wants the Senatorship, he would
not want it under the alleged conditions
that it would be offered to him by MEM
berS of the Legislature from the Second
Congressional District. BY staying out of
caucus they endanger the safety OF the
party. Mr.. DAVIS certainly could not
wish to encourage anything that
might overthrow the party, nor
do we think he would wish an election I'M
der such circumstances. We believe such
imputationS do the ex-senator both iDjus-
tice and harm, and we would like to hear
d relutation from him that would leave no
one the slightest chInce to make such an
imputation.
We do not wish to be understood as inn
putting improper motives upon any man
we have mentioned, though we are certain
many of them are mistaken. We have
reason to believe that all will yet See that
they are not only doing themselves injus-
tice but violence to their party'S safety an /
will vet unite with the representatives Of
the great body of the Democracy of the
State in repelllng the enemy's attacks
rather than assisting to tear down the
Democratic stronghOlds.
Since the above was put in type tele-
gram is at hand giving President PRICES
version Of his action for not going into
caucus. We give Senator PRICE
credit for making frank statement OF his
position on the question OF caucus. And
furthermore we are glad to hear his con-
demnatiOn and relutatiOn OF the rumOIs
relating to Mr.. HENRY q. DAVIS. But
his Judgment is certainly ut hult for not
going into caucus. He says that he would
have gone into caucus had things been left
alone to run their natural course. But
when the enemies of Mr.. CAMDEN have
been making such bitter and indecent
tight on him and the majority in the Leg
iSlature, could it be expected that the ma
jOrity would not resist and fight back?
Thirty-Seycu Democrats went into eau
Gus These were elected by Democratic
constituents rs staunch and aS true ~ that
which Mr.. PRICE represents. Mr.. PRICE
iorgets that by his words he is impugning
the motives OF these men by making such
sweeping charges against them and Senator
CAMDEN, and, uncOnSciously, We doubt
not, is throwing base imputatiOn upon
the intelligence and honesty of 4 majority
OF the Democracy OF the State. We have
been on the ground ut Charleston and
have seen and heard nothing done by Mr..
CAMDEN and his friends that was not per
fectly legitimate and honorable, while the
minority reSorted to many things that
were undemOcratic and unfair. Senator
PRICE should he more specific in his
phqrrrpl aud pNnlln1IipuS